Administration

Penn State Great Valley celebrates naming commitments for Knowledge Commons

After a year and a half of having dedication ceremonies postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State Great Valley held an in-person celebration to recognize three generous naming commitments for the campus’ Knowledge Commons on Sept. 8. Dallas and Di Krapf made a commitment to name the lounge, while Dan and Kathy Pedriani committed to dedicate the atrium and gaming room. Students, faculty, staff and campus supporters gathered to hear remarks from Chancellor James Nemes, Dallas Krapf and Dan Pedriani prior to the unveiling of the dedication plaques.

Once a library that housed rows of bookshelves and catalogued tools, the 9,000-square-foot area now offers a variety of resources for students, faculty, staff and visitors. In addition to the library’s circulation desk and limited onsite collection, there are group study rooms, a micro-market, a 3D printing lab, a One Button Studio, a media editing room, a gaming room, a fitness studio, the writing center and the instructional design office.

The Krapfs made a commitment to dedicate the Knowledge Commons lounge in July 2019. Dallas Krapf is an emeritus member of the Great Valley advisory board, and he and his wife have been avid supporters of Great Valley for more than 25 years.

“Di and I are so happy to be a part of the Great Valley campus where so many international students can call home and get a quality education,” Krapf said. “The Knowledge Commons has been a wonderful addition to our campus. It’s like Happy Valley in Great Valley.”

In December 2020, the Pedrianis committed to dedicating the Knowledge Commons atrium in their name and the gaming room in honor of their late son, Daniel Pedriani III.

“When we first saw the atrium, we were immediately drawn to this warm and welcoming space where students and visitors can relax and feel part of the greater Penn State family,” Kathy Pedriani said. “When we toured the Knowledge Commons facilities, we identified with the gaming room for a more personal reason and decided it would be the perfect room for our whole family to dedicate in memory of our fun-loving son.”

The Pedrianis have been connected to Penn State Great Valley for over 30 years, beginning when Dan Pedriani joined the Great Valley advisory board. The Pedrianis both received their bachelor’s degrees from Penn State in 1971 and have been involved with the University Park, Great Valley, and Schuylkill campuses since then.

“In June of 2021, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our graduation from Penn State and our 50th wedding anniversary,” Dan Pedriani said. “Kathy thought this was the perfect venue to commemorate both milestone occasions while declaring our love for each other and for Penn State, and I totally agree.”

These gifts will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

Considering naming a room or space in the Knowledge Commons? If so, email gvdevelopment@psu.edu or call 610-648-3279 to learn more.

Last Updated October 28, 2021